JenA while back, I promised more about female Iranian motocross riders Noora Naraghi and Behnaz Shafiei. Today I’m delivering with some bonus information about women learning to surf there. The action sports scene is going strong, and these women are not letting patriarchal rules hold them back.
In 2009, along with eight other women (including her mother), Noora Naraghi competed with the men and rode out in front for the women. She competed against her mom, seven other women, and men in the MX2 division. Her entire family rides, and her husband is stoked about the achievements she has made. Noora set her sights on the U.S., and in 2010, she got her AMA license (the first Iranian to do so) and competed races stateside. She worked with top female racers Stefy Bau and Ashley Fiolek while here and has taken the new knowledge to coach more women in Iran.
By Caren Firouz/Reuters
Behnaz Shafiei‘s career is full of firsts as well. This year, she hosted and won Iran’s first female-only race. She has also received support from family and strangers alike. As evident with the New York Times article my friend showed me, Behnaz is gaining a lot of attention worldwide. She even has a commercial for Georg Jensen. Her trip to the U.S., however, taught her the need for sponsorships and licensing to compete abroad, and she is currently raising money through a gofundme to pursue her dreams.
Going from the desert to the ocean, French surfer and filmmaker Marion Poizeau introduced the sport to Iranian women four years ago. The idea was somewhat of a coincidence, as it was a male friend who wanted to explore the untouched surf of Iran. He missed his flight, and Marion and the third member of their party decided to make it a girls’ trip. The locals became interested. When she returned in 2013, she connected with two female Iranian athletes, Mona Seraji and Shalha Yasini, thus beginning “We surf in Iran” classes.
By Marion Poizeau
Coming full circle, Noora posted on her Instagram about a surfing instructor course. Iranian women are probably embracing other action sports, as evident with Ana Lily Amirpour’s vampire skater girl protagonist in A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night. Let’s hope these women keep ripping and pushing for more freedom, just like their American counterparts.
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